Bracken Tor House
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds7
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Learning disabilities, Mental health conditions, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2019-05-03
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The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth65
- Compassion & dignity65
- Cleanliness60
- Activities & engagement55
- Food quality50
- Healthcare45
- Management & leadership65
- Resident happiness60
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-05-03
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was the only domain rated Requires Improvement at the March 2019 inspection. This is the domain that covers staff training and competence, care planning, access to healthcare professionals, nutrition, and whether care is delivered in line with evidence and best practice. The published inspection summary does not specify which elements within Effective were found to be lacking. A monitoring review in July 2023 did not trigger a reassessment, but this was based on available data rather than a physical visit. There is no published evidence that the Requires Improvement issues have been formally resolved through a subsequent inspection.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. This rating covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how well the home supports independence. The published summary provides no specific examples — no inspector observations of staff interactions, no resident quotes, and no relative testimony — so it is not possible to verify what good practice looked like in practice at Bracken Tor House. The broad range of specialisms (dementia, learning disabilities, mental health, physical disabilities) in a seven-bed home means staff need to be skilled at adapting their communication and approach to very different individual needs.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. This domain covers how well the home tailors care and activities to individual needs, responds to changing needs, and supports end-of-life wishes. As with other domains, no specific detail is available in the published summary — no activity programmes are described, no individual case examples are given, and no family feedback is quoted. In a seven-bed home serving people with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental health conditions, genuine responsiveness requires a very high degree of individual tailoring.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. The home has a named registered manager (Ms Sarah Elizabeth Pyne) and a nominated individual (Mr Alan Goldstein) listed on the registration record. Beyond this, no specific detail is available about leadership culture, staff empowerment, governance systems, or how the home handles complaints and family feedback. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence requiring reassessment, though this was not a physical inspection. It is not known whether the registered manager and nominated individual listed remain in post.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The team here supports people with quite different needs — from learning disabilities and mental health conditions to dementia and physical disabilities. They care for both younger adults and those over 65. For those living with dementia, the home provides specialist support as part of their wider care approach. The team understands how to help people maintain their sense of self through the changes dementia brings. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Bracken Tor House scores in the mid-range overall, reflecting a generally positive picture across most areas but with a notable gap in the Effective domain — the one that covers training, care planning, and healthcare — which was rated Requires Improvement at the only inspection on record.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Bracken Tor House is a very small registered care home of seven beds in Okehampton, Devon, run by Care Worldwide (Devon) Limited. The only inspection on record took place in March 2019 — now over five years ago — and returned an overall Good rating, with Good across Safety, Caring, Responsiveness, and Well-led. The one exception was Effective, which was rated Requires Improvement. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a reassessment of the rating, but this is a desktop review, not a physical re-inspection. The home's small size and broad range of specialisms — including dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health — suggest it serves a complex and varied group of people. The most important uncertainty here is the age of the inspection evidence. A 2019 report tells you relatively little about what your mum or dad would experience today. The Requires Improvement in Effective is the detail that most needs following up: this domain covers training, care planning, and access to healthcare — the foundations of good dementia care. Ask the home directly what was found to be lacking in 2019, what changes were made, and whether an independent review has taken place since. On your visit, ask: 'Can you walk me through how my parent's care plan would be written, reviewed, and shared with me?' Watch how staff interact with residents in unplanned moments — the corridor, mealtimes, transitions between activities — as these tell you more than any document.
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In Their Own Words
How Bracken Tor House describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
A place where dignity matters in the Devon countryside
Compassionate Care in Okehampton at Bracken Tor House
When you're looking for the right care in Devon, finding somewhere that truly respects each person can feel overwhelming. Bracken Tor House in Okehampton offers residential care for adults with various support needs, from learning disabilities to dementia. Set in this historic market town on the edge of Dartmoor, the home provides care for both younger and older adults who need that extra support.
Who they care for
The team here supports people with quite different needs — from learning disabilities and mental health conditions to dementia and physical disabilities. They care for both younger adults and those over 65.
For those living with dementia, the home provides specialist support as part of their wider care approach. The team understands how to help people maintain their sense of self through the changes dementia brings.
“If you're considering Bracken Tor House, why not arrange a visit to see if it feels right for your family?”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Bracken Tor House scores in the mid-range overall, reflecting a generally positive picture across most areas but with a notable gap in the Effective domain — the one that covers training, care planning, and healthcare — which was rated Requires Improvement at the only inspection on record.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.Worth a visit
Bracken Tor House is a very small registered care home of seven beds in Okehampton, Devon, run by Care Worldwide (Devon) Limited. The only inspection on record took place in March 2019 — now over five years ago — and returned an overall Good rating, with Good across Safety, Caring, Responsiveness, and Well-led. The one exception was Effective, which was rated Requires Improvement. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence requiring a reassessment of the rating, but this is a desktop review, not a physical re-inspection. The home's small size and broad range of specialisms — including dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health — suggest it serves a complex and varied group of people. The most important uncertainty here is the age of the inspection evidence. A 2019 report tells you relatively little about what your mum or dad would experience today. The Requires Improvement in Effective is the detail that most needs following up: this domain covers training, care planning, and access to healthcare — the foundations of good dementia care. Ask the home directly what was found to be lacking in 2019, what changes were made, and whether an independent review has taken place since. On your visit, ask: 'Can you walk me through how my parent's care plan would be written, reviewed, and shared with me?' Watch how staff interact with residents in unplanned moments — the corridor, mealtimes, transitions between activities — as these tell you more than any document.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Bracken Tor House measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Bracken Tor House describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
A place where dignity matters in the Devon countryside
Compassionate Care in Okehampton at Bracken Tor House
When you're looking for the right care in Devon, finding somewhere that truly respects each person can feel overwhelming. Bracken Tor House in Okehampton offers residential care for adults with various support needs, from learning disabilities to dementia. Set in this historic market town on the edge of Dartmoor, the home provides care for both younger and older adults who need that extra support.
Who they care for
The team here supports people with quite different needs — from learning disabilities and mental health conditions to dementia and physical disabilities. They care for both younger adults and those over 65.
For those living with dementia, the home provides specialist support as part of their wider care approach. The team understands how to help people maintain their sense of self through the changes dementia brings.
“If you're considering Bracken Tor House, why not arrange a visit to see if it feels right for your family?”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
